Ringling Bros. Trial Updates

Born Free USA, Animal Protection Institute (Born
Free USA), American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (ASPCA), The Fund for Animals and a former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus (Ringling) employee, is suing Ringling for violating the
Endangered Species Act by cruelly mistreating Asian elephants.
The trial is now underway.

The Asian elephant is currently listed as an endangered
species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), meaning that any
acts that would “harm, wound, injure, harass, or kill” an Asian
elephant in the wild or in captivity are prohibited. The lawsuit
alleges that a number of routine practices by Ringling are in
violation of the Endangered Species Act, including the forceful
use of a bull hook and the chaining of elephants for most of the
day and night. We have amassed a wealth of evidence to support
these claims.

Bull hook Use

A bull hook, or ankus, is made of wood, metal, or other
substantial material. It is approximately 2 to 3 feet long, and
at one end is a sharp steel hook and poker. It is used to poke,
prod, strike, and hit animals to “train” them — all for a few
moments of human amusement.

We have video footage of Ringling employees repeatedly
hitting elephants with bull hooks, as well as video footage of
the daily hitting and “hooking” of the elephants to make them
stay in line, move in a particular direction, or perform on cue.

In addition, we have Ringling’s own internal written
documents that discuss the mistreatment of the elephants. For
example, Ringling’s animal behaviorist reported “an elephant
dripping blood all over the arena floor during the show from
being hooked.” In an internal email, a Ringling veterinary
assistant reported that “[a]fter this morning’s baths, at least
4 of the elephants came in with multiple abrasions and
lacerations from the hooks.” After the release of this
information to the public, Ringling moved to prohibit the
release of any additional information to the public provided via
discovery.

Chaining

Chaining is one of the most common methods used to confine
elephants in captivity. It severely restricts an elephant’s
movements, eliminating its ability to lie down, walk, or
socialize with other elephants. The severity of these
restrictions can result in neurotic psychological behavior,
physical injury, and even the death of captive elephants.

Newly obtained evidence based on the circus’s own documents
reveals that Ringling keeps elephants virtually immobilized in
chains for the majority of their lives. Internal records show
that the elephants are chained while confined in boxcars for an
average of more than 26 hours at a time, and sometimes for as
much as 60–100 hours, as the circus moves across the country.

In addition, former Ringling employees will be testifying
about the mistreatment they witnessed while working for the
circus, all of which corroborates the claims alleged in this
case.

In addition to Born Free USA, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit
are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, the Fund for Animals, and
Tom Rider, a former Ringling employee.

* The lawsuit is before the Honorable Emmet J. Sullivan in
federal district court in the District of Columbia and is being
handled by Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, one of the country’s
preeminent environmental law firms.

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